Hide and Seek: The Mad Girl Sees All novel Chapter 87

Chapter 87

As the white light faded, Lyra lay on the ground, arms still clutching a heap of cats, her face completely covered in tur

[This round of Hide-and-Seck has ended.]

[Surviving players: 11.]

[Draconia Player-Lyra Vance, survived.]

[Draconia Player-Lily Sterling, survived.]

[Southern Reach Player-Lina, survived.]

[Ursaria Player-Lydia, survived.]

[Belsoria Player-Sergei, survived.]

[Aurelia…]

The broadcast kept going, rattling off the rest of the survivors’ names.

Lyra looked down and realized she was still holding all ten cats, not a single one missing.

The Maine Titan’s head was resting under her forearm, the Ambercat was curled up on her chest, and the Silver Whisper’s tail lay across the back of her hand. Every single cat had its eyes shut, breathing softly, like they were just napping.

Lyra’s laughter burst out at the mission exit, ringing through the air.

She lay on the ground, shoulders shaking with laughter.

‘I really managed to bring them out! I actually did it!’ Lyra thought, her heart racing with excitement.

I really did it!’ she kept telling herself, unable to believe it was real.

“Goddess Lyra!” Lily’s voice called out from the right.

She rushed over, crouched down next to Lyra, and offered both hands to help. “Are you okay?”

I’m fine, just help me up. My arms went numb from all these cats piled on me,” Lyra said.

Lina rushed over, with Lydia and Sergei close behind.

Lily and Lina propped Lyra up between them, while the ten cats lay sprawled on the ground, not a single one stirring.

wrong

with them?” Lina crouched down and tapped the Ambercat’s ear, but it didn’t even twitch.

“It’s probably just some lingering effect from Dream Butterfly, or maybe the game messed with them,” Lyra said, rolling her wrist. “Let’s just scoop them up for now and check again once we’re back.”

Lydia bent down and scooped up the Maine Titan and Silver Whisper, tucking one under each arm.

Sergei, Lina, and Lily each picked up two cats, while Lyra scooped up the last two-the Tabby Mirage and Tricolor Mimic.

In the clearing by the mission entrance, the other players were gradually turning their attention over, and Alex was keeping an eye on Lyra and her crew.

All ten cats, right there with them.

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Chapter 87

Lyra glanced down at the cats in her arms, then looked up at Lina. “Lina

“Yeah?” Lina replied.

The Ambercat-its soul is actually a player from your country.” Lyra said.

Lina’s fingers tightened slightly around the Ambercat.

“Do you want to take it home?” Lyra asked.

Lina’s breath caught for a moment. She looked down at the Ambercat’s chubby little face, and for a second/her eyes welled

Take it home? God, I wish I could!’ Lina thought.

That player once fought for Southern Reach in the game, and after dying, ended up as an Ambercat.

Lina pressed her lips together, then let them relax. “No.”

Lily blinked in surprise. “Why not?”

“I can’t even talk to a cat,” Lina muttered, steady but quiet. “If I took it, I wouldn’t know how to care for it, or how to wake it up. With you, Lyra, it’s safe.”

She paused. “And honestly, I’m being selfish. Southern Reach only has one district left. If I brought back a Wraith cat and it woke up and went wild…”

Lina didn’t finish, but everyone understood.

With just one district left, they couldn’t afford to take that risk.

Lina leaned closer to Lyra. “Lyra, it only reacts to your Dream Butterfly. With you, it actually stands a chance of being useful.

Lyra stroked the Ambercat. “Alright, I’ll look after it for you for now.”

“Thank you, Lyra, Lina said, her voice softening. “Thank you for bringing it out.”

[Please select your rewards in order.]

The game broadcast wrapped up, and the reward selection kicked off. The other players were already lining up to grab their prizes.

The Britannia player stood between the two beams of light, weighing his options for a few seconds before stepping into the real-world reward pool.

Lyra didn’t rush over. She turned to Lina. “Which one are you picking?”

Lina stood there, hesitating. If they hadn’t hauled so much stuff in this round, she wouldn’t have thought twice. But they’d brought in so much-rice, veggies, meat, oil, spices… They weren’t short on food anymore.

‘If I end up with more food, that’d be a total waste, Lina thought

‘But what if I get a district wipe?’ Lina worried.

‘What if, what if, what if… Lina’s mind kept spinning.

“Stop overthinking it,” Lyra said, seeing all those worries written on Lina’s face. “Even if your country only has one district left, you don’t have to be scared.”

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Chapter 87

Every single one, safe in their hands.

Tanaka was the first to blow up. He jabbed a finger at Lyra, his face still marked with fresh claw scratches. “You idiot’ How could you bring those Wraiths out of the mission? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Lyra didn’t even spare him a glance, but Lina spun around and snapped, “Why do you care? You’re so nosy, you’d probably sniff a manure truck just to see if it’s salty or sweet!”

Tanaka’s finger froze in mid-air, trembling. “You idiot… you idiot…”

“Quit yapping, your breath is making me gag!” Lydia snapped.

Lydia shot him a glare, and Tanaka snapped his mouth shut, his face turning red with rage.

Park Jung-hoon stood next to Alex, staring at the ten cats with a frown so deep it could kill a fly. “They actually brought those Wraiths out of the mission? Is that even allowed?”

Alex didn’t answer. He just kept his eyes on Lyra’s back, his mind spinning with possibilities.

The game probably ended because of her, Alex thought.

‘She must’ve done something to those ten cats-either killed them or knocked them out. Either way, they lost the ability to move, and the game’s mechanics were thrown off, so it had to end early!

‘But why would she bring the cats out? If those Wraiths wake up in the real world, what if they start killing people in their country?’

‘Unless she’s got a way to keep them under control..

Alex’s gaze shifted from the cats to Lyra’s face. She was leaning down, chatting with Lily, a loose, carefree smile on her lips- like she hadn’t just walked out of hell’s gates.

‘What is this woman really thinking?’ Alex wondered.

“Boss, aren’t we going to do something?” Tanaka leaned in, voice low, eyes full of resentment.

“What’s there to do?” Alex replied, turning away. “The cats are in her hands, not yours. She brought them out, so whatever happens, it’s her problem, not yours.”

Tanaka clammed up.

Park Jung-hoon opened his mouth, but thought better of it.

On the other side of the clearing, Lyra adjusted her hold on the cats, then leaned in to murmur quietly with Lina and the others.

“Honestly, I never thought I could really pull it off,” Lyra admitted.

Lily’s eyes went wide. “Goddess Lyra, when you were lying there hugging all those cats, you weren’t even sure it would work?”

“Yeah.” Lyra nodded, totally casual. “Just thought I’d try-maybe it’d work, maybe not.”

“And if it didn’t?” Lily pressed.

“Then it didn’t. It’s not like I’d lose anything.” Lyra shrugged.

Lily nodded. “Oh, true!”

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